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No fewer than 6 people have lost their lives during a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.

The midweek "tragic" incident seems to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the entrances," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.

22 others were injured, among them five who are in critical condition.

Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, the capital, with the aspiration of joining the armed forces.

The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the latest official data show, and such enlistment drives typically draw massive gatherings and frequently result in chaotic scenes.

The deadline to apply for this event was prolonged for a week to accommodate more applicants, as a number had faced challenges in the application procedure.

Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.

Ghana's President John Mahama has visited the wounded in hospital.

Calm has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has since begun.